TM 5-628/AFR 91-44
(2) Appearance in track. Rail wear appears
as a rounding of the running surface of the rail
head, particularly on the gage side (fig B-18).
u. Slivers.
(1) Description. A sliver is the separation of
a thin, tapered mass of metal from the surface of
the head, web, or base of a rail. Slivers are not
critical defects.
(2) Appearance in track. Thin slivers on the
t. Shelling.
surface of the rail head and parallel to the rail
(1) Description. A progressive horizontal
length similar to wood slivers (fig B-20).
separation which may crack out at any level on the
gage side but generally at the gage corner. It ex-
tends longitudinally not as a true horizontal or
vertical crack, but at an angle related to the amount
of rail wear. Shelling is not a critical defect.
(2) Appearance in track. Appears as one or
more of the following:
(a) Dark spots irregularly spaced on the
gage side of the running surface.
(b) Longitudinal separation at one or
several levels in the upper gage corner with
discoloration from bleeding.
(c) If the rail has been turned, the shelly
spots will appear on the field side with an irregular
overhanging lip of metal similar to flowed rail (fig
B-19).
B-8
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